For years, the enduring Chinese deli along Wilson Street in San Juan has been the ever reliable go-to source for authentic homestyle dim sum and other specialty products. In a challenging new normal, it remains as dependable as ever, geared up for the changing times...
Times may have changed in this new normal, but there are a few things that endure like everyone's favorite Chinese deli in San Juan. Diao Eng Chay, popularly known as DEC'S, remains as popular as ever with its wide array of specialty offerings for those dim sum cravings. And more. Familiar, comforting and sumptuous easy-to-prepare dishes at home becomes the norm in this new normal, and you'll find it all at DEC'S. Here are some tasty finds at DEC's that's perfect for stocking up at home in the long days of quarantine...
Known for their wide selection of Frozen Dim Sum, a quick scan of the upright chillers at DEC'S presents infinite possibilities for delivery and home dining in the new normal. Simply pop the frozen dim sum in your steamer and a sumptuous feast is ready in minutes. Packed and sealed frozen, the dim sum selection at DEC'S can be safely stored in the freezer to satisfy any late-night cravings.
In step with the times, DEC's keeps pace with the new normal with its convenient online ordering system and delivery process. The quarantine experience brings a whole new set of consumer habits including dining at home, the rise of the food delivery culture and increased online usage defining the new normal. DEC'S adapts to these changing consumer habits by embracing technology to remain relevant with the times. A few quick taps on your mobile device provides easy access to the extensive offerings of DEC'S, ready for pick-up or delivery. But there's more to DEC'S than just Frozen Dim Sum...
Restricted mobility in the new normal means staying home. And that also means more time in the home kitchen. Specialty products like cans of succulent crab meat from Saravia Blue Crab (P 990) brings an indulgent vibe to your home dining table...
...perfect for Crab Fried Rice or Crab Cakes. Working with what's available in the home pantry, a simple yet hearty Crab Omelet with green peas presents a satisfying and easy to prepare meal at home. But flipping the omelet can be tricky...
...and if at first you don't succeed, just keep on trying until you get that perfect flip. And once you do perfect the flip, you'll soon discover just how calming and therapeutic the home kitchen can be in this challenging new normal.
Give yourself a much-deserved pat on the back for that perfect omelet flip while enjoying a sumptuous meal at home. Having canned crabmeat in stock at the home pantry opens up infinite possibilities for home dining, and you can find it at DEC'S. Crab Cakes and Crab Fried Rice next? Easy, just open a can of Saravia Blue Crab.
Here's the secret ingredient to the classic homestyle Minced Pork dish, Gulong Pork Mince with Bean Paste. Another home pantry essential, preparing the traditional dish at home is fast and easy for fuss-free yet satisfying meals.
The traditional recipe calls for thin slices of eggplant, but you can use tofu instead. Soaking up all the flavors, each bite of the firm pre-fried tofu delivers a rich burst of savory notes. Soft inside and crisp on the outside, the fried tofu pairs well with the ground pork adding both layers of flavors and textural contrasts with every bite.
And you'll want some extra steamed white rice with this one. Simply drizzle some of the sauce on the steamed rice and dive in with a loaded spoonful...
...for a comforting meal at home in the new normal. Hearty and familiar flavors offer a much needed break from the quarantine blues, and DEC'S has the goods to ensure you can have a sumptuous meal at home with its wide and varied selection.
DEC'S also offers probably one of the best fresh lumpia (P 120) or Spring Rolls in the metro. Prepared fresh as you order, each spring roll is packed with vegetables delivering bold yet clean flavors...
...from the different ingredients served with a thick and sweet sauce. Noticeably larger than most fresh spring rolls, each order is a filling snack and complete meal in itself. For decades, the fresh spring rolls of DEC'S have been a much sought-after delicacy and it's popularity continues even in this new normal. Like anything fresh, it's best consumed immediately after purchase.
A slice reveals just how loaded the specialty fresh spring rolls are from DEC'S, and definitely worth what it costs. Priced at a premium versus other options, these spring rolls pack a flavorful punch. And you'll only find it at DEC'S.
Fresh from the freezer and straight to your pan, the Korean Beef Bulgogi by Ready To Heat Eats brings another tasty option to your home dining table offering both convenience, real flavors and value.
And when you decide to go Korean at home, complete your feast with Homemade Kimchi also available at DEC'S...
...for a proper and complete combo of Korean flavors. All you need now is a steaming hot bowl of rice. And maybe some Soju.
The thinly sliced marinated beef just takes seconds on the grill or pan, immediately releasing a fragrant aroma...
...and it's ready to serve. Fork-tender with rich layers of fat for even more flavor, the Korean Beef Bulgogi by Ready To Heat Eats is a sumptuous meal in minutes. Convenience and flavor combine for a satisfying home-cooked meal, from the freezer to the pan and to your plate.
And the perfect side? Kimchi, just what you need to temper the savory richness of the tender beef bulgogi. The sharp, clean and mildly spicy flavors of the pickled vegetables adds contrasting notes with each bite for that delicately balanced finish. The freshness of the vegetables also adds textural contrasts with a crisp snap after every bite.
An all-Korean combo with the Korean Beef Bulgogi by Ready To Heat Eats and Homemade Kimchi, it's a winning pair from DEC'S.
Fresh from the ovens, you can also enjoy baked treats at DEC'S like their Chicken Pie (P 30 each) with a savory filling wrapped in a soft pastry crust. Simply warm it in the oven for a few minutes and enjoy.
The savory filling with chunks of tender chicken and vegetables wrapped in a soft and buttery crust brings comforting flavors to warm the palate, and the Chicken Pie is one more tasty offering from DEC'S to add to your growing list of favorites. Pair it with a freshly brewed cup of coffee for that perfect afternoon treat.
You'll also find one of the country's finest ice cream brands, Carmen's Best Ice Cream with its own exclusive chiller at DEC's (for more on Carmen's Best, see my posts, Carmen's Best Ice Cream: The Story Behind Each Pint, Each Scoop and Each Indulgent Bite for a in-depth look at the well-loved and proudly local brand, Reinventing the Basics: Carmen's Best Brings Quality and Value with Their New Value Line, Arctic Ice Cream on their new value product line, At The Source of Carmen's Best's Freshness at Real Fresh Dairy Farms for a peek at their farm's operations and Farm-Fresh to Your Table: Make It Real Fresh with Holly's on their fresh specialty dairy offerings).
Made with the freshest and purest ingredients, each pint of Carmen's Best Ice Cream elevates the ice cream experience. It's ice cream the way it should be. With the freshest milk from their very own farms as the flavorful base blended with premium ingredients, each pint is a masterful creation of pure indulgence. Find out for yourself with a pint or two.
Munchies? The specialty Corn Pops by Kelly & Co are also available at DEC'S (more on my earlier post at Add Some Real Pop to Easy Snacking with Corn Pops by Kelly & Co Snacks) for those insatiable cravings for munchies. These munchies are also a healthier alternative to the usual processed snacks in the market. Available in Cheese, Barbecue and Sweet Corn variants, stock up on all three for good measure.
Then, there's the Frozen Dim Sum selection of DEC'S. A timeless and much loved staple, the extensive and wide variety of offerings at DEC'S are impressive. Start with the classic Pork Siomai (P 290), succulent dumplings with pork and shrimp...
Much larger than the usual frozen variety, the Pork Siomai by DEC'S is succulent and packed with all the good stuff. The savory notes of the pork and briny sweetness of the shrimps come through with each juicy bite...
...capped by the soft yet firm dim sum wrapper. Concoct your own dipping sauce with soy sauce and chili and prepare for a sumptuous dim sum feast at home in just mere minutes.
Level it up with the Shrimp and Scallop Siomai (P 305) filled with the richness of seafood like plump shrimps and succulent scallops. Soft in texture while maintaining its shape all the way to the last bite, the Shrimp and Scallop Siomai by DEC'S is one of the best frozen dim sum options available in the metro.
The dense yet soft texture of the delicate dim sum delivers rich layers of flavors from the fresh shrimps and scallops packed in each dumpling. It's definitely not your ordinary siomai, with its blend of shrimps and scallops.
It's both funny and strange how these late night cravings for dim sum keeps you up in the long days of quarantine, but it happens. DEC'S offers an easy solution with their line of Frozen Dim Sum. Simply stock up on bags of frozen dim sum in your freezer and relax.
And you're ready when the next craving for dim sum hits, any time of day. A few minutes on the steamer and your platter of juicy dim sum is ready without the fuss.
From the classic Pork Siomai to the succulent Shrimp and Scallop Siomai, the tempting options at DEC'S offers limitless possibilities for all your dim sum cravings. Time to bring out your jar of chili oil for the next round of dim sum...
...with the Cuchay Shrimp Dumplings (P 245), another tasty option with fresh Chinese Chives. The distinct green hue and shape of the dumplings sets it apart, delivering fresh and clean notes from the chives for an added layer of flavor.
The bite-sized dim sum pairs well with a generous dab of chili garlic oil. From the texture of the wrapper to the juicy filling, the Cuchay Shrimp Dumplings by DEC'S brings fresh flavors to the palate. Served fresh from the steamer, you get to enjoy all the richness at its flavorful peak in the comfort of home.
And once you start, you just can't put down those chopsticks as you go for another bite. Pour yourself another cup of tea and just go with the flow. Enjoy it for brunch, an afternoon snack or a late night nibble, the wide Frozen Dim Sum selection from DEC'S are guaranteed to satisfy any craving at home.
And it all boils down to that very last piece to cap a satisfying dim sum feast. But there's more...
The specialty Pork and Cabbage Dumplings is another tempting option at DEC'S, with its savory pork and cabbage filling wrapped in a much firmer yet soft dough.
A gentle bite releases the flavorful richness of the pork and cabbage blend followed by the soft texture of the wrapper. A drizzle of chili garlic oil completes the flavors.
Bold flavors come in little packages, and this holds true with the savory Pork and Cabbage Dumplings. The light and chewy texture of the dough along with the rich pork and cabbage filling combine for a sumptuous dim sum experience at home.
As the country and the whole world battles yet another surge in viral cases, staying home becomes the smart option to curb the spread of the pandemic. Now there are more options for dining at home, including the wide array of specialties from DEC'S.
The quarantine experience may have changed our usual daily routine, but it's both reassuring and comforting to know that there are enduring institutions that remain exactly the way we remember it. Even in the new normal, the wide array of offerings at DEC'S continues to satisfy all our cravings without skipping a beat. And with online options available, it's never been easier to enjoy all their tempting treats at home in this new normal.
DEC'S is located at 203 Wilson Street, San Juan or call 721 3649 for inquiries. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/DECSASIAN/ for more updates.
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